McD's((Aureus))

[zea]

"Can I get you anything?"
"A glass of water would do good, thanks."

The dark-haired girl said, squeezing herself into one of the tiny chairs placed at the serving counter of the small McDonalds restaurant. It may have seemed odd to order water at a fast food chain, but it was all she desired at the moment. Placing one hand atop the other, Zea leaned back in the high chair and nibbled on her bottom lip, when the man in the funny uniform came back with a foam cup of clear liquid her lip retreated from the other and she smiled a thanks.

Taking it into her hand, Zea sipped slowly, it was a nice feeling in her throat since she hadn't drank anything since she had left San Diego, which had actually been the most foolish, narrow-minded thing anyone could've ever done.
Did I or did I not specifically tell you: don't listen to yourself. You're too dumb, Zea. I've got the smarts, from now on you should ask me for approval on anything you want to do before doing it. Said that annoying voice, Une.

Zea ignored it, a tear started up in the tear duct of her left eye but she sniffed it in, balled her empty fist, and breathed hard. The restaurant was awfully quiet, at first she hadn't known it but she had finally realized she was the only one inside it. Well, at least it's peaceful... She thought to herself, and then sighed, Oh Patrick...

[Aureus]

Paradox. Aureus was happy, happier than he had ever been in his entire life. He had finally realized he wasn't alone. There was someone out there that thought like him, accepted him, and gave herself to him physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Though that was the first conflicting issue.

What was 'spirit'? Some word created for an abstract thought that humans felt because they thought they were special, thought they were different. Yes, that was it. Unfortunately that definition wasn't enough anymore. This new feeling 'love', it had become a line between what he had been and what he was becoming. Was there really some deeper connection he had just discovered, or was it simply a blend of chemicals in his brain fooling him? Who knew, not Aureus, and so he was trapped there, in that realm of uncertainty. Ignore the nagging possibility, or focus on it and destroy his contentment. Maybe, just maybe it was being stranded in the middle that was the worst.

Ah, there were so many levels of contradiction it could make your head spin. You had to blindly accept one extreme of the first level just to move on to the second. Assuming he accepted the happiness, he was plagued by something else. A feeling of dread, fear that there was something out there waiting to destroy his new peace. Of course this was probably just his fear of going back to loneliness, but still something told him it was a deeper. Something so terrible it had the potential to wreck everything he was or was becoming. Insanity like you've never known...

It was funny, though. None of this mattered to anyone else. Actually, it probably frightened them. Why shouldn't it? A boy had walked into the fast food restaurant like a mindless zombie, sat down, and stared ahead of him for five minutes with his dark brown eyes glazed over. Something so horrible can walk right into your midst without even the smallest warning. A storm waiting to break free from an unstable mind, and yet it was so easy to brush off. God, how lucky they were to avoid the madness on the horizon. Surrounded by so many, yet trapped so alone.

It would probably be best to give a better sense of the events unfolding, no? It had been two days, or was it three, since the zombie-boy had found his ultimate happiness. This came in the form of a girl, of course. She was intelligent, independent, willful, cute, beautiful, sexy, and fun all at the same time. What else were you expecting? A list of her flaws from the one that loved her? Well, maybe his alternate personality could handle that. Two people so emotionally distraught, together? You're asking for trouble there. She's worse than the both of us. She attracts danger and drama. You should know not to get attached. Am I going to have to keep everything locked up for you once this is all said and done?

OOC: Wow big post...

[zea]

((Wow. It is a big post oO;)

Zea looked over at the boy who had come and sat down next to her, her expression blank as she just simply stared him down. Was there something wrong with him? The man behind the counter had asked if he wanted anything at least five times now and then had went on back into the kitchen, the boy looked mindless, driven by thoughts that confused him, had him twisted up in some senseless game ... he was ... Like me.

Yes, I agree with you on that fully. He most likely is an idiot, a full-fledged loser. A moron who would go after some girl who he's known for a week that moved to some other city just to say 'Why did you leave?'. And I don't believe I just said that ... I guess kids are getting serious about Halloween nowadays, he's already got his game-face on, so it seems.[/i]

Zea ignored the voice, she didn't care what Une had to say, she was still concerned about Patrick. Still worried about herself. What would she do without him? She loved him. They had been together for a pathetic three weeks but she had never been more happy in her life, they understood each other wholly and were able to please one another, able to sit down and listen or hold onto and make the other fall asleep in an embrace underneath the stars. Zea wondered why he had left... everything seemed so right, but yet it had all along been so wrong and she felt guilty for it.

It's my fault, Patrick left because of me ... but ... he wouldn't. He'd tell me face-to-face, not through a letter, not through a note. We were ... friends.

The thoughts of her much loved, much younger lover made her want to cry but Zea did hold it in. She was strong enough to do just that, she wouldn't let herself destroy herself, she wouldn't drive herself to madness, she would fight back and be strong. She would ... Patrick. The name wailed through her head once more, she decided to distract herself from the very thoughts and paid more attention to the kid sitting next to her. He had been staring at nothing for so long that she wondered if something was wrong with him, being the former waitress of a very busy coffee house back in San Diego she was used to long faces and angry people, but this was near odd.

I know how to get his attention! I'll ... poke him. She thought to herself, and then did so, it must've seemed childish but she did, "Got a reason for the long face?" She asked, thinking for a moment there and agreeing with herself that no one should have the right to act so down if they weren't, especially since people who actually were going through real pain themselves held back on drawing attention to themselves like so most the time, she stared at the side of his face. Looked at his hair and started to imagine it as red... red and spiked and ... Patrick's...

[Aureus]

Touch, contact, friction. The small little poke shattered his thoughts like a baseball slamming against a mirror at ninety miles an hour. For some reason or another the Pillar had become very sensitive to physical touch, he even jumped a little. Hearing the question that followed he considered answering her.

"Yes." He said in his old, stone cold tone. She didn't ask what he was thinking about, or why his face was long, so he wouldn't tell her. Heh, that really didn't matter though. His thoughts were his own, and he had no intention of sharing them with a stranger. Chi had changed him, but not completely. He was open with her, gentle with her, considerate with her, and no one else. He was all business, lest he let anyone take advantage of his new semi-outlook.

[zea]

Yes. Just simply yes.
Zea picked up her water and took another sip, the cool feeling inside her throat was great and relieving but not very relieving. I guess people here aren't as social as people back in San Diego... She thought to herself and then finished the water, she wondered why this guy had come into a fast food restaurant if he wasn't going to buy anything, sure her drink was only a couple cents maybe but it was something.

Zea took another look, he looked young, like your typical teenager, a high school student, what did he have to worry about? She was the real one in pain, who had issues, who needed help, who needed love, who needed support ... the one who needed Patrick.
Okay, I swear. This cannot go on any longer! You're driving me crazy![/i]
I can't stop thinking about him... Patrick wouldn't leave me like this, he couldn't.
Correction, you couldn't leave him. He could've, would've, did. So get over him and go hitch some cute guy, fall in love and live happily ever after like in fairy tales.[/i]
Une, I can't do that. I'm not like you. I need Patrick.
Oon kamapooma sak sak voo voo.[/i]

Zea sighed, she looked at him and then sighed, it'd be best to make some friends to keep her on track while she looked for him, maybe. She didn't extend a hand to shake or anything, just forced on a timid smile, "By the way, I'm Zea Cruise. From San Diego... and um, I just thought ... you should know that..."

[Aureus]

Sometimes he really hated parts of himself; especially the part that made him sympathize with total strangers. Why the fuck should he feel bad if she was disappointed he wasn't being as friendly as she was? Who cared how she felt, he had his own problems to deal with. Unfortunately he wasn't able to maintain his cold indifference and sighed before answering her. "Nice to meet you, Miss Cruise." He said simply before looking around the area.

It seemed he had walked into a McDonald's without even knowing it. But now that he was here he might as well get something to drink. Food you ask? Definitely not. Just the thought of eating something from there made him sick. Some fast food was fatty, but at least tasted good. McDonald's was crap, and tasted like it too. "Gimme a medium Dr. Pepper." The Pillar said nonchalantly. Looking up at the price board, he fished the approximate amount from his pocket and placed it on the table for the boy to pick up whenever. Turning back to the older looking girl, Aureus spoke once more. "So, what brings you to SoCal?"

[zea]

((Oh well >> sucky, I dunno what to write about))

Zea stared back down at the counter, she heard the boy's words but did not follow them, instead a little image stimulated in the back of her head and painted a hazy picture for her. There were flowers, a never-ending field of warm summer colors and then some snow flowers, rain droplets surrendered themselves to the growing plants and every drip came a new petal until there was nothing but colors all around.

And then all of a sudden all the colors vanished into thin air and there was a blanket of blue swirling about in her mind, Zea saw something showing from behind the bright illumination of a surreal sun, red hair, spiked and combed and overdone with a tad of smelly hair gel. And then dark eyes flickering behind a modest colored pair of shades, but then the vision vanished and Zea no longer saw it in her head. She bit down on her lip, leaving a few bits of moist upon it and then just sat there with her hands cuffed on one another upon the marble counter,

His question was a bit of a stumper for her. She didn't feel like talking about Patrick, but ... might as well throw in a couple of words, "Er, I've come for a friend ... sort of ... you know, teen aged, tall, red hair," Zea made sure to rub in a bit of his description just in case the guy happened to recognize the certain details she was laying out for him, it didn't really matter if he didn't, "He must've come here a week ago or something, I really don't know but ... yeah.."

[Aureus]

That look... He thought, noticing it right away. He had seen himself in a mirror before, and that's exactly how he looked when he was talking with Levi. So, either this woman was spacing out, or she was a schizo. Doubting the latter, he paid no further mind to it and waited for her to reply.

A teenager? Why was she looking for a teenager? Regardless, it was obvious he meant something to her. The way she had zoned before mentioning him was proof enough of that. Though how exactly she knew him wasn't clear. Maybe he was her brother. It didn't matter though, it was her business and Aureus wouldn't dare intrude by asking for more information. "There are a lot of guys that fit that description. Don't know any that are new though." He responded casually. His drink came, all nice in it's paper cup. Poking a straw through the lid, the Pillar sipped the fountain drink like he didn't have a care in the world.

[zea]

And there goes my hope...
Hhmmm... what, you mean, you were still hoping one of these kids we keed running into would actually know where your little Particker went? Come on, Zea, drop it! I mean, a girl like you should be living a life of scandal, just having fun without thinking about the consequences, going out with guys fifteen years older then you and not caring if your underwear shows up on the news tomorrow morning. Come on, girl, you're not just going to bore me to death in here, are you?

Une... Patrick is my second half, I can't just let him ... walk away. Correction: I am your second half and the two of us don't need anyone else to keep us stiched. With your body and my smarts, we could turn this shady excuse of a life you have into a pound and a half of miracle whip. Sound good?[/i]
Terrible.

"I understand, he doesn't exactly stand out though, and I'm not positive he came here and..." Zea sighed, dug her elbows down into the countertop and let two open hands swallow up her face, exhaling hardly before the two pieces of skin connected. Oh, why is my life so hard?
Yes, why is my life so hard?
Oh shut up.

[Aureus]

Shifting his eyes to the side, Aureus studied the girl for a moment. She was short, really short, and reminded him a bit of Chi. Now, that didn't exactly help the situation any as it only made the boy think about her more than he already was, if that was possible. *sigh* Why does she have to be all awkward and depressed? He asked himself. It was hard to ignore someone that looked so sad. "Keep looking and I'm sure you'll find him eventually." The schizo said with an odd optimistic tone in his voice.

[zea]

...

This is boring.
Tell me about it. I miss him so much...
No, I mean, this situation is boring. Look at him, totally cute guy and you're in a totally empty restaurant! Come on, you must have some dark fantasies creeping through your head right now.[/i]
Yeah... finding Patrick. But that's not a very dark fantasy, it's just a wish... a hope, a need. We just had so much fun together, I can't afford to lose him now.
I don't see why when it'll only cost you one brain and a hint of common sense! He dumped you the easy way. Now stop thinking about him and do something like kiss the boy next to you. Which will, come to think of it, be pretty tasty...
Look, shut up, Une. You got one thing right in the whole talk-a-mile-per-minute thing you've been talking and that was, he's a boy! Young, fragile, immature. Not a shoulder to lean on, but, even if he was, I'm devoted already to someone special. Patrick. I need to find him, and I certainly will not just kiss some stranger!
That Patrick thing is getting into you, I tell ya! And besides, you don't have to kiss a stranger! -- Ask him name first, duh?
Forget it... I hate you!
Oh finally![/i]

"Maybe, but, I don't really want to wait that long... you know. Once you have someone you're so happy, but I think it's wise to seize the moment too, they might be gone and out of your life just a week after saying that they love you; after you completely give into them and just run to them as a certain security blanket you have, tell them all your secrets, indulge in their embrace ... I think I could've seized the moment with Patrick, I ... is he going to come back to me? I haven't looked so much but, if he were here and knew I was, he'd come and relieve me, wouldn't he? Unless he didn't want to be together anymore ... I mean ... and I'm okay with that, I just want him to say it to my face, like .. a man! But ... "
Zea was mostly talking to herself, to the counter, or to her feet. Questions did pop up but she wasn't paying attention to the boy next to her, she couldn't, she was numb thinking of Patrick. It was like he was a piece of her world... what would she do without that piece?

[Aureus]

See?! Do you fucking see what that bullshit emotion does to you?! This chick is a total mess just 'cause that guy left her. You totally lose any sense of individuality and depend on someone else way to much. And it's the worst for people like you! People who've never had that before. As soon as you get it you give up everything else and become obsessed! If you're going to do this shit, at least remain somewhat independent. Don't get too close. Stay who you are, you need more then her to survive. Don't forget that Levi shouted at Aureus out of nowhere. It was kind of strange how much this girl's situation could be his own in only a short amount of time.

What if something happened between him and Chi? Would he be like this? Totally lost without her, even though he survived for 15 years by himself? No. I won't let that happen. She's important to me, but not everything. I'll be fine...I'm sure. Nothing bad will happen anyway...

Turning back to the older girl, Aureus replied: "That's why you can't depend too much on anyone, anyone but yourself. It's hard, not knowing for sure why something happened, but all you can do is move on. Do what you think's best, and what makes logical sense. I know this isn't really the best advice, but it's all I have."

[zea]

Oh wow... you've finally met someone as smart as I am![/i]

Zea ignored her other half, twiddled with her fingers and inhaled a large breath. Maybe he's right. It's nice to know someone who's right, who understands... but, I can't move on ... without Patrick...
I don't know whether to be insulted right now or not. I do still count as someone, right?[/i]
You count, but ... No, it's impossible. Without him there's like no me. No one understands...
Look, Zea, I'm being honest with you now! Give me twenty bucks and I'll ... use your legs to run to the dollar store and get you the biggest brain they supply, which probably won't be too big, but I assure you it'll work better then yours![/i]

"Yeah..." Was all Zea managed to say in reply.

[Aureus]

Even though she seemed to accept what he said, Aureus could still tell the girl was sad. Well, what could he do about it? Lying to her and being optimistic wouldn't help anything, and being rational didn't seem to have much of an effect either. So now the dark haired boy was lost for words. It wasn't his place to help her anyway. What was he, a psychiatrist?

"Well, I hope you feel better." Aureus said finally before getting off his seat to leave. There really wasn't much conversation going on, and aside from that he wasn't really in the mood to listen to someone else's problems. If she followed him, he wouldn't care, and to be honest he really didn't know where he would go. Maybe he'd let Levi take over and free run for a while. Who knew where the night would take him.

While walking towards the door, the Pillar pulled the dark gray hoodie closer to his body and it's hood over his head. It was cold outside, and the salty air filled his senses as he stepped away from the McDonald's...